Dispenser assembly for soda fountains



Dec. 9, 1969 R. s. BENCIC 3,482,598 I DISPENSER ASSEMBLY FOR SODA FOUNTAINS Filed April 25, 1967 I 0.2555025 SWITCH Z gz WA r52 INVENTOR.

United States Patent US. Cl. 137568 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser assembly for a soda fountain for supplying still water and carbonated water in the mixing and dispensing of soft drinks. A single high pressure water pump is connected to both a still water hydraulic circuit and a carbonated water hydraulic circuit. The still water circuit includes a pressure tank to maintain a predetermined pressure of the still water within the circuit and the carbonated water circuit includes a carbonator tank for adding carbon dioxide to the water. A pair of switches Wired in parallel are connected to the pump to operate the pump when either l) the still water pressure is below a predetermined limit, or (2) the level of water in the carbonator tank is below a predetermined limit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the field of soft drink dispensers and more particularly to apparatus for supplying still water and carbonated water in the mixing and dispensing of soda fountain drinks.

In known arrangements involving apparatus of the type generally described two separate hydraulic circuits are used in supplying still water and carbonated water. The two circuits each include a separate water pump to increase the pressure of the incoming supply water to a satisfactory level. The pressure of the still water is desirably in the range of about 6070 p.s.i. and the pressure of the carbonated water is desirably in the range of about 100-110 p.s.i.

The two separate circuits increase the cost of a dispenser unit and of course increase the operation and maintenance problems because of the duplication of the pumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention improves upon prior arrangements by maintaining the pressure of still water at a given level without continuously operating the pump as the water is being drawn off, and by additionally interconnecting the still water and the carbonated water circuits and supplying both by means of a single high pressure water pump. A pressure tank divided into a water side and an air side is connected into the still water circuit at the outlet side of the pump to maintain the pressure at the still water tap within predetermined limits, as the water is being drawn off without the necessity for continuously operating the pump. The operation of the pump is controlled as a function of the pressure in the air side of the pressure tank, which varies according to the pressure in the water side. A carbonator tank is connected into the carbonated water circuit at the outlet side of the pump and the operation of the pump is also controlled as a function of the level of Water in the carbonator tank. A solenoid valve is mounted in the still water circuit to close the circuit when the pressure of the water therein is within the predetermined range, thereby diverting water from the pump into the higher pressure carbonator water circuit and the carbonator tank when the water level in the tank is low.

3,482,598 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 Briefly, then, the present invention may be summarized as comprising apparatus for providing mixing water in the dispensing of soda fountain drinks including a high pressure water pump for connection to a source of water, hydraulic circuitry for dispensing still water comprising a pressure tank having a movable member partitioning the interior of the tank into a still water side and an air side, conduit means communicating said pressure tank to the outlet of said pump, tap means in said conduit means for tapping off still water, and switch means connected to said pump for controlling the operation of the pump as a function of water pressure at the still water tap.

Additional features of the invention comprise a check valve in the conduit means between the pump and the tap means for preventing back flow of the still water from the pressure tank to the pump. Another feature includes an air pressure gage for indicating the pressure of air in the air side of the tank.

Another salient feature of the invention comprises hydraulic circuitry for dispensing carbonated water including a carbonator tank having a water inlet connected to the outlet of the pump and a carbonated water outlet for connecting to a carbonated water tap, means for pressurizing the carbonator tank with carbon dioxide and water level switch means connected to the pump in parallel with the still water pressure switch means for controlling the operation of the pump as a function of the level of water in the carbonator tank.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved soda fountain dispenser unit wherein the pressure of the water at a still water tap is maintained at a relatively constant value.

Another object is to provide a dispenser unit including a still water tap and a carbonated water tap both of which are serviced by a single high pressure water pump.

Another object is to provide a still water hydraulic circuit connected to a high pressure water pump with a pressure tank partitioned by a movable member such as a flexible diaphragm into a still water side and a closed air side for maintaining the pressure of the water at a still Water tap within predetermined limits regardless of whether the pump is continuously operating.

Another object is to provide a dispenser system including a still water circuit and a carbonated water circuit both of which are serviced by a single high pressure water pump, the operation of which is controlled both as a function of water pressure in the still water circuit and the volume of water in the carbonator water circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a generally schematic showing of a dispensing system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the systern shown in FIGURE 1.

DESCRIPTION THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGURE 1, a dispensing system for preparing soda fountain drinks constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is indicated generally at reference numeral 10 and comprises a high pressure water pump 11 having an inlet 12 for connection to a source of water and an outlet 13 connected both to a still water circuit and a carbonated Water circuit indicated respectively at 14 and 15.

The still water circuit 14 is more particularly characterized as comprising a pressure tank 16 partitioned interiorly by a pressure responsive movable member such as a flexible diaphragm 17 into a first chamber or water side 18 and a second chamber or air side 19. The water side 18 is connected in fluid communication with the outlet 13 of the pump 11 by suitable "conduit'a's indicated at 20. g V g v,

Another conduit 21 is connected to and forms an extension of the air side 19 and has mounted thereon an air pressure gage 22, a pressure relief valve 23, an air fill valve 24 and apressure responsive electric switch 26. The distal end of the conduit 21 is capped asat 27..

Astill water tap 28 is connected intofthetconduit 20 between the pressure tank 1 6 and the pump 11 for draw ing off still water. The tap 2 8 may be located on'a soda fountain assembly, for example, in, the usual manner. One-way flow imposing 'means such as a check ,valve 29 ismounted in the conduit 20 between the tap 28 andthe pump and a solenoid pperated shut-off valve 30 is mounted between the ,check valve 29 and the pump 11. The carbonated water circuit 15 is ,more particularly characterized as comprising a carbonator tank 31 connected to the outlet 13 of the pump 11 upstream of the solenoid valve 30 by means of a conduit 32. The carbonator tank 31 is of a type generally known in the art and is charged with carbon dioxide in the usual manner from a conduit 33. Carbonated water delivered from the tank 31 is conveyed to a carbonated water tap 34 through a conduit 36. The carbonated water tap 34 may be located on a soda fountain in proximity to the still water tap 28, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The still water drawn from tap 28 does not, of course, have any carbonation but is desirable in the mixing and dispensing of soft drinks using non-carbonated or still water that the pressure of the still water at the tap be maintained within a predetermined range, for example, between about 60-70 psi. The carbonated water tap 34 dispenses water which has been charged with carbon dioxide in mixing other kinds of soft drinks and is desirably maintained at a pressure of about 100-110 psi.

It is apparent that the desirable pressure ranges of both the still water and the carbonated water are well above the pressures available from a city water line or the like source of water. This necessitates the use of the high pressure water pump 11 which is driven by an electric motor indicated at reference character M. The pressure rating of the pump 11 is, of course, above the maximum desirable pressure in either the still water circuit 14 or the carbonated water circuit 15, or in excess of about 110 psi. in the case of the exemplary ranges set forth herein. The purpose of the pressure tank 16 is to maintain the pressure of the still water at the tap 28 within the desirable range regardless of whether the pump 11 is operating at the time the tap 28 is opened. In operation the air side i 19 of the tank 16, including the conduit 21, is filled with air through the air fill valve 24. The pump 11 is then operated to fill the water side 18 of the tank 16. During this filling operation the diaphragm 17 flexes toward the air side 19 as the pressure in the water side 18 builds up to compress the air in the air side 19. The pressure responsive switch 26 is connected to the pump motor M to deenergize the pump after the pressure in the-air side 19 (and correspondingly, the pressure in the ,water,

side 18) has attained a predetermined level, for example, 70 p.s.i. Subsequently, as' still water is drawn from the tap 28, the pressure in the air "side 19 will act against the diaphragm 17; to-rnaintain a",substantially constant Pressure of the, stillwater. After the-pressure inthe air side:19 has been, reduced to ,a predetermined level, for

example, 62 ps i., theswitch 26 will again energize thepump.-11 topumpwater into-the; Water side ,18 of the v pressuretan-klfi unti-lonce again the pressure in the air' side-19 attains alevelof approximately 70 ps i. t

The solenoid valve v30 is also connected to the switch 1 26 ,to open-when the contacts of the switcht26 are closed to energize- :the pump 11,. and to close When the contacts -of= switch; 26 are-opened; Thus the solenoid valve isonly open when the'switch 26 calls for more water i he water side 18 of the. pressure tank, 16.

' 10, 'assum'e't hafthe water 'level in the caibonatont ank 31 is within the predetermined limits-. thereof, but additional water is required in the'water: side 18 of the pressure tank 16. The electric contacts ofthe pressure 'tesponsive switch 26 th n ClQSQtQcpen the solenoid valve 30 and to energize the water pump 11. Because of the higher pressurelofnthe carbonatbr tank 3l*,'"all of the water being delivered by the pump ll will beconveyed by conduit. 20 to the pressure tank 16 After the-pressure; Within the tank 16 has risen .to thepredeternrined; upper limit thereofithe contacts tofthe switch gdopen.to clos r; the solenoid valve 3 and deenergize the ptttnprjl Assume thelevel of, neme i the, carbonator-tank;, 31 then falls to thelower lim't of the-desired range. ,T,-he,. contacts of switch 3,7 Q theni close to i energize the pump, 11. Since the solenoidf yalvefifl is ,qlOsedall of thejwater. delivered by the pump 11 will, ,be conveyed into, thecarbonator tank 31 through, conduit 32, The check valve ,29 prevents the backfiow of stillwater from the pressure, tank 16 downstream toward thepump 11. Another check valve may be installed in the conduit 32 between the carbonator'ta'nk' 31 and conduit 20.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a pairof main power lines are indicated at L and L Lg is connected directly to one terminal of the pump motor M; L; is connected to the pump motor M through the waterlevel switch 37 which is connected in parallel'to one pair offcontacts 38 of the pressure responsive's'witch'26. Another pair of contacts 39 which operate in unison withcon'tact's 38"connect solenoid valve 30'to the power lines Li'a'ndL I Thus either of the switches-'26 and '37- can operate the pump 11, but the solenoid 'valve 30 opens only when the switch 26 energizes the pump 11; I claim as my inventionr" 1. A'dispensing assembly for 'supplyin'g' mixing water in the dispensing'of soda fountain drinks comprising, a high pressure water pump for connection'to a source of Water,anda still water circuit for dispensing still water comprising, a pressure tank' having a movable memben'partitioning the interior of the tank into a waterside and a closed air side whereby,the movable member maintains an air pressure in'the air side which corresponds to thewaterpressure, in the s e; 1 v conduit means, connecting the. water sideof said pressure .tank to the outlet. of. said pump, tap;v

means in said conduit means for,tapping-t.oif stillwater; h t I p electric switch: means connected toisaid pump for;, controlling vthe operation ,of the .purnpeto main tain a predeterminedv pressure ofu p water atsaid tap means,,i and M W a'solenoid valye in said conduit means, saidairs; pressupeswitch means .being, connected tosa' pump and-to saidsolenoidvalve as to close 1a carbonator tankchavingra *watea 'inlet for"connection'to the outlet of said pump'and 'a carbo the. solenojdvalye when the pump isdeenergized dispenser. assemblyasdefinedfip claim ls where in said solenoidvalveis located; betweentsaid tapincense, 1 and saidvpurnp l ated water outlet for connection to a carbonated water tap, means for pressurizing said carbonator tank with CO2, and water level switch means connected to said pump in parallel with said air pressure switch means for controlling the operation of said pump as a function of the level of water in said carbonator tank. 4. A dispensing assembly for supplying mixing water in the dispensing of soda fountain drinks comprising,

a high pressure water pump for connection to a source of water, a still water circuit for dispensing still water comprising,

a pressure tank having a movable member partitioning the interior of the tank into a water side and a closed air side whereby the movable member maintains an air pressure in the air side which corresponds to the water pressure in the water side, conduit means connecting the water side of said pressure tank to the outlet of said pump, tap means in said conduit means between said water side of said pressure tank and the outlet of said pump for tapping off still water, first electric switch means connected to said pump for controlling the operation of the pump to maintain a predetermined pressure of the water at said tap means,

a check valve in said conduit means between said pump and said tap means for preventing backflow of water from said pressure tank to said pump, a carbonated water circuit for dispensing carbonated water comprising,

a carbonator tank having a water inlet for connection to the outlet of said pump and a carbonated water outlet for connection to a carbonated water tap, means for pressurizing said carbonator tank with CO and water level switch means connected to said pump in parallel with said first switch means for controlling the operation of said pump as a function of the level of water in said carbonator tank.

5. The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said first switch means is operatively responsive to the pressure in the air side of said pressure tank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,008,484- 11/1961 Conan 137568 X 3,050,079 8/ 1962 Tognella 137-668 2,533,428 12/1950 Carpenter 222-3865 X 25 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner WILLIAM R. CLINE, Assistant Examiner 

